Abstract
Background and purpose: This study investigated age-related changes of the relationship between renal dysfunction and silent brain lesions (SBLs) comprehensively among healthy subjects. Methods: We studied a total of 1,938 subjects who voluntarily joined brain checkup system at Shimane Institute of Health Science between January 2001 and December 2008. The relationship between renal dysfunction and SBL on MRI including silent brain infarction, periventricular hyperintensity, subcortical white matter lesions, and microbleeds were examined along with risk factors for stroke and renal dysfunction. Results: The prevalence of renal dysfunction was 6.2% in the middle-age group and 14.5% in the elderly group (P<0.001). Also, the prevalence of all SBLs was significantly higher for the elderly group compared to the middle-age group (P<0.01). Using binary logistic regression analysis, SBL in the middle-age group tended to be associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In the elderly group, the presence of renal dysfunction was a significant risk factor for all types of SBLs after the adjustment of age and gender. Conclusions: This comprehensive study revealed the strong relationships between renal dysfunction and SBLs in elderly people. Protection of kidney function may be an important strategy for primary prevention of future stroke onset.
